Detroit, MI – February 27, 2025 – A unique public garden in Detroit is flourishing thanks to the dedication of nearly 300 volunteers, offering a vibrant natural space within the city and attracting over 5 million annual visitors to Belle Isle. The Oudolf Garden Detroit, designed by renowned landscape architect Piet Oudolf, emphasizes naturalistic planting and seasonal change, creating an immersive experience for guests.
Oudolf, often described as “painting with plants,” meticulously selects species and colors, considering their appearance throughout all four seasons. “Very few people can see a plant through all the seasons and add a layer of time and understand how that garden is going to look,” Oudolf explained in a recent interview.
The garden’s design isn’t rigid; Oudolf embraces serendipity. He noted an accidental butterfly weed plant, Sclepius tuberosa, that seeded itself within the garden, saying, “It seeded here, but its color matches the intensity of everything else that’s here. And when it’s all in bloom together,it’s fiesta time.”
Alexandra Sarkozy, a part-time horticulturist assisting Thomas, highlighted the garden’s dynamic nature. “This palette changes every 10 days.It’s just this constant series of moving parts,” she saeid. Plants like ‘Fatal Attraction’ and ‘Hula Dancer’ contribute to the ever-evolving display.
Volunteers play a crucial role in maintaining the garden, with opportunities extending beyond customary gardening. Meredith Simpson, who manages the volunteer roster, explained, “Not everyone is a gardener. some folks love to mow lawns…We have folks absolutely who are bed captaining these amazing beds and learning every single plant in those beds.But there’s everything in between as well.”
The garden’s impact extends beyond aesthetics. Simpson observed, “To have access to nature out here, right in the city, to have this stunning, emotional, sort of ephemeral, always changing garden, you see people simply relax and just exhale and truly enjoy. Touches you very deeply.”
